Connor reviews 'The Hangover Part III'

Another round of drinks for the Wolfpack! "The Hangover Part III" isn't art, but it's laugh-out-loud funny and it manages to conclude the ridiculously wacky adventures of Phil, Stu and Alan in a satisfying, surprising, and moving fashion.

After a highway incident involving a giraffe and the death of his overly compassionate father, Alan (Zach Galifianakis) is convinced by his Wolfpack brothers Stu (Ed Helms), Phil (Bradley Cooper) and Doug (Justin Bartha) to get help at a treatment facility. Midway through the cross-country road trip, Doug is kidnapped by a grumpy, cigar-smoking gangster named Marshall (who was briefly mentioned in the first film).

The only way the three remaining wolfpack members can ensure his safe return is to find and capture the cocaine loving drug addict Leslie Chow (Ken Jeong) and hand him over to the gangsters. Why is the fun loving Chow a wanted man? Now that he’s escaped from a high security Thailand prison, Chow is sought after for stealing dozens of gold bricks, which were taken from gangster Marshall four years prior.

Critics (including myself) bashed "The Hangover Part II" for being an inept, witless, and mostly unfunny retread of the first films successes. Sure, central character Alan still delivered a few chuckle inducing lines, but for the most part, "Part II" was a play-by-play remake.

"Part III" shines because it dares to stray away from the central narrative and plot structure of the first two films. In fact, there is no hangover at all until the film's end credits. "Part III" is almost as much an action thriller as it is a comedy. Versus the usual misplaced tattoo and missing teeth, there are high stakes and occasional life and death situations. Despite the increased danger, the jokes and laughs still come often, and the goofy tone from the first two installments is still present here.

If you're a fan of the first Hangover film, or unfortunately a fan of the second, the third and final Wolfpack escapade has a lot of in jokes and oftentimes-subtle references to events that took place in the last two films. Alongside that, there are a handful of gut-burstingly funny Alan and Chow lines that will surely leave audience members in stitches. Even escort Jade (Heather Graham) and baby (now toddler) Carlos return for an effective and poignant scene where Alan convinces the dadless child that he is in fact his birth father.

Ken Jeong's Leslie Chow appears more frequently in this film than the previous two. He plays a central role in the film and as expected, significantly contributes to the never-ending shenanigans. His catchphrases and punch lines are more frequent and his actions have never been more consequential. Needless to say, if you're not a Chow fan (or a Hangover fan in general), this is not a film for you.

Bradley Cooper is as dreamy as ever, and Stu even manages to yell "What is going on!?" a few times. Playing notorious gangster Marshall, John Goodman is a welcome addition to the franchise and he’s clearly having a blast in the role. Like "Big Lebowski's" Walter Shoback, he entertains by shouting at his inferiors ("This is what happens Donny!")

The third act of "The Hangover Part III" takes place in Las Vegas, the main setting from the first film. In a way, the franchise ends as it began. Alan even finds an odd, but perfectly matched companion in Melissa McCarthy's thrift shop running Cassie.

The Wolfpacks final ride into the sunset is sweet, and may even bring on a few tears (both from the laughs and the emotion). "The Hangover Part III" successfully wraps up the misadventures of the four friends and it reminds us why we loved the original "Hangover" so much in the first place. If you choose to go see "Part III," just make sure to leave your shot glasses and marshmallows roofied with ADHD medication at home.